The Appointments Committee of Parliament is expected to present the report comprising full recommendations to have Martin Amidu approved as Ghana's first Special Prosecutor.
Mohammed Mubarak-Muntaka, the Minority Chief Whip in Parliament, revealed that all efforts are being made to present the full report on Friday, February 16.
The Appointments Committee of Parliament unanimously recommended the approval of Martin Amidu as Special Prosecutor after nine hours of vetting him in Parliament on Tuesday, February 13, 2018.
First Deputy Majority Whip in Parliament and also a member of the Appointments Committee Matthew Nyindam said the committee after the hearing within ten minutes decided to unanimously approve Martin Amidu as the first Special Prosecutor for Ghana.
On Tuesday, February 13, Martin A.B.K Amidu appeared before Parliament’s Appointments Committee to be vetted, despite a lawsuit challenging his nomination.
The vetting lasted for over 7 hours with the Special prosecutor answering over 180 questions. It appears to be the longest vetting session for a single individual in Parliament.
Suit against Martin Amidu
NDC MP Dr. Dominic Ayine has sued the State challenging the eligibility of Martin Amidu as the Special Prosecutor nominee due to his age.
Dr. Dominic Ayine, who is the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Bolgatanga East, is praying the Supreme Court to halt the appointment because 66-year-old Amidu is gone past the retirement age for public office holders.
Dr. Dominic Ayine is seeking these reliefs:
a) A declaration that by a true and proper interpretation of Articles 190(1)(d), 199(1), 199(4), and 295 of the 1992 Constitution, the retirement age of all holders of public offices created pursuant to Article 190 (1)(d) is sixty (60) years, anyhow not beyond sixty-five (65) years;
b) A declaration that by a true and proper interpretation of Articles 190(1)(d), 199(1), 199(4) of the 1992 Constitution, no person above the age of 65 years is eligible for employment in any public office created under Article 190(1)(d);
c) A declaration that by reason of his age (66 years), Martin Alamisi Burns Kaiser Amidu is not qualified or eligible to be nominated as the Special Prosecutor under section 13(3) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2018 (Act 959);